Cohesive closure pattern

ABSTRACT

A container having a fillable body provided with a flap. A series of bands of cohesive material are coated on said body and said flap so that independent of the location at which said flap is folded, said cohesive bands will intersect and seal the container.

nited States Patent Tundermann ay 29, 1973 COHESIVE CLOSURE PATTERN3,310,225 3/1967 Hoblit et a1 ..229/'62 3,326,450 6/1967 Langdon..229/80 [75] Inventor: Werner Otto Tundermann, Coloma, 3,669,254 6/1972chrysamhisn "229/62 NJ. 3,291,368 12/1966 Hess ..229/485 B 3,301,462l/1967- Starr 229/485 B X 1 Asslgneei 8 Company, New 2,745,592 5/1956Steck ..229/51 WB York, N.Y. 2,810,507 10/1957 Saunders ..229/57 WB X[22] Filed 1971 1 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead [21.] App] 17 32Attorney- Herbert S. Sylvester, Murray M. Grill US. CL, ..'..229/62,229/485 B, 229/51,WB

Norman Blumenkopf et al.

[57] ABSTRACT 2g A container having a fillable body provided with a l 10 can flap. A series of bands of cohesive material are coated 229/77 onsaid body and said flap so that independent of the location at whichsaid flap is folded, said cohesive [56] References Cited bands willintersect and seal the container. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 10Drawing Figures 1,992,152 2/1935 Yeates ..229/485 B Q 35 \Q w/f PatentedMay 29, 1973 2. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet B FIG. /0

COHESIVE CLOSURE PATTERN This invention relates to cohesive sealingarrangements for thin plastic film containers.

The use of cohesives to provide sealability of envelopes, bags and likecontainers has the advantage that the cohesives only stick to themselvesand therefore envelopes, bags and like containers when so treated may bestacked or put on rolls without fear of sticking together as long as thecohesive does not touch untilsealing is intended.

In the past, when cohesives have been used on containers, theregistration of the cohesiye has been such as to limit closure to one,or a very small, limiting number of prescribed fold and seal settingsand has required relatively wide bands, and hence more cohesive, toachieve closure with any degree of latitude in sealing position. It istherefore the object of the present invention to provide, by means ofnovel patterns of cohesive bands or strips, a wide latitude of sealingpositions yet use a minimum amount of cohesive applied in a simple, highspeed production manner.

Certain plastic film containers are desirable for the purpose ofpackaging goods for ready visibility of the contents thereof. Inpackaging foodstuffs, for example, it is desirable to achieve as small apackage as possible both to save space and preserve the foodstuffs byminimizing unused volume. The present invention provides for practicallyunlimited sealing positions thus enabling a housewife or other user topackage material in arapid and carefree manner, yet will assure aneffective closure and a compact package.

Various types of cohesives may be pigmented and colored. By coloring thebands or stripes an internal decorative effect may be obtained whichalso has the advantage when using plastic film bags of pointing out thelocation of the closure for facilitating opening of the package. Thecolored cohesives in the completed package are covered by a layer ofplastic film which gives rise to a specially attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel decorative displaycapable of selective use as a closure arrangement.

Still further objects and features of this invention resides in theprovision of cohesive closure arrangements which employ parallel stripsor bands or cohesives which provide for numerous'spaced contact pointsat any position of closure, which can be manufactured by mass productionmethods and stacked in piles or packaged on rolls, and which isinexpensive to make thereby permitting wide use and distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thepresent invention, which will becomes apparent as the followingdescription proceeds, are attained by these cohesive closure patterns,preferred embodiments of which are disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of a container employing a cohesive closurepattern in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container shown in a selected closedposition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view looking along the direction of line3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a container shown in a selected closed positiondifferent from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view looking in the direction ofline 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view in a reduced scale of a modified cohesive closurepattern on a container;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of cohesive closure patternon a container;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a container in a closed position encompassing arelatively large volume;

FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the container in aclosed position encompassing a lesser volume; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, but showing thecontainer in a closed position encompassing a yet smaller volume.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 20 generally designates a container in the form of athin plastic film bag. This bag 20 includes a front panel 22 and a rearpanel 24. A flap 26 lies in the same plane as the rear panel and formsan integral extension of the rear panel 24. The front panel 22 and rearpanel 24 are sealed to each other along the continuity of the side edges28 and 30 and the bottom edge 32 of the bag In accordance with theconcepts of the present invention a series of narrow spaced parallelbands of a cohesive closure material are printed or otherwise coated onthe upper portion of the front panel 22 and continue onto the flap 26.These cohesive bands may be printed on the bag 22 by rolls or othersuitable means while the bags are being formed on a continuous basis.The pattern of the bands is an arrangement wherein the bands 34, 36, 38,40, 42, 44, and 46 each extend at an angle of forty-five degreesrelatively to the side edge 28 and the top edge 48 of the front panel 22which defines the mouth of the bag 20.

When the flap 26 is folded, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 along the top edge48, the bands of cohesive material on the flap 26 will overlie,intersect, and cohesively bond with the bands on the front panel 22 toform contact points such as indicated at 50. By using more or fewerbands, more or fewer contacts are generated when the flap 26 is foldedto seal the bag 22.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when lesser contents are disposed in the bag20, the flap 26 and even a portion of the front panel 22 and rear panel24 may be folded, as for example along the phantom line 52 shown inFIG. 1. When such is accomplished, other contact points 54 are assuredwith the user folding the parts of the bag 20 in a carefree manner withassurance that a sufficient number of contact points will be achieved toeffect a very good closure without necessitating any special care in thefolding.

When the bag is filled with a greater amount of material, it may beclosed in another position, as for example, along the phantom line 56with sufficient contact points assured for a good closure.

The selection of the forty-five degree pattern is desirable from bothproviding for convenience in manufacturing, efficiency in use, and apleasant ornamental appearance should the cohesive material of the bandsbe colored and the plastic film be transparent. The pattern may bevaried to provide for diagonal stripes and angles other than that of 45and, as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the bag has its front panel 72 and flap74 provided with a series of spaced parallel horizontal bands '76 andvertical bands 78 which will intersect when the flap 74 is folded tooverlie the front panel 72.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in H68. 7 through 10, herein thebag is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with certain additions. Foldlines 80 and 82 are printed on the bag 20. Further, the contact pointsare augmented by the printing of special figures of cohesive material inalignment with the bands. When the bag is folded along the fold line 80,as shown in FIG. 8, the enlarged figures in the form of circles 84 willmesh and cohesively. bond at contact points 86.

When the bag is folded along its mouth defined by the top edge 52, asshown in FIG 9, the enlarged figures in the form of rectangles 88 willmesh and cohesively bond at contact points 88.

When the bag is folded along fold line 82, as shown in FIG. 10, theenlarged figures in the form of triangles 92 will mesh and cohesivelybond at contact points 94.

Each of the enlarged figures of circles, rectangles, or triangles, orother selected figures may be printed in the same or different colorsfrom the bands and may overlie or coincide with other figures or partsthereof, thereby producing a fascinating decorative effect whileproviding for a better closure without requiring too much more cohesivematerial. Obviously in this form of on the front panel.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of theinvention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a plastic film bag having a integral fillablebody provided with a front panel and a rear panel, a flap intengral withand initially being a continuation of said rear panel and lying in thesame plane as said rear panel and being foldable into overlying positionabutting said front panel, and a plurality of spaced narrow bands ofcohesive material on said front panel and extending continuously on saidflap so that when said flap is folded into overlying position onto saidfront panel, portions of said bands will cross perpendicular to andoverlie other portions of said bands to cohesively seal said container.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said front panel isrectangular and has a side edge, said bands extending at an angle of 45to said side edge.

3. A container according to claim 2, including a plurality of pre-foldlines on said container, and a plurality of enlargements of said bandson said flap and said front panel for providing enlarged areas ofcohesion when said flap is folded along one of said pre-fold lines.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein there are three differentspaced pre-fold lines, said enlargements being of three different shapedsets of figures.

5. A container according to claim 2, wherein said bands are colored,said container being transparent so that said bands provide an internaldecoration for said container.

1. A container comprising a plastic film bag having a fillable bodyprovided with a front panel and a rear panel, a flap intengral with andinitially being a continuation of said rear panel and lying in the sameplane as said rear panel and being foldable into overlying positionabutting said front panel, and a plurality of spaced narrow bands ofcohesive material on said front panel and extending continuously on saidflap so that when said flap is folded into overlying position onto saidfront panel, portions of said bands will cross perpendicular to andoverlie other portions of said bands to cohesively seal said container.2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said front panel isrectangular and has a side edge, said bands extending at an angle of 45*to said side edge.
 3. A container according to claim 2, including aplurality of pre-fold lines on said container, and a plurality ofenlargements of said bands on said flap and said front panel forproviding enlarged areas of cohesion when said flap is folded along oneof said pre-fold lines.
 4. A container according to claim 3, whereinthere are three different spaced pre-fold lines, said enlargements beingof three different shaped sets of figures.
 5. A container according toclaim 2, wherein said bands are colored, said container beingtransparent so that said bands provide an internal decoration for saidcontainer.